World Diabetes Day is 14 November, making this month the perfect time to focus on diabetes, a health condition affecting an estimated 590 million people around the world, ways to manage it to help prevent potentially life-threatening diabetic complications, and steps to help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.

This year’s theme for World Diabetes Day is diabetes and the workplace. It is estimated that seven out of every 10 people living with diabetes are of working age, whilst three in four people living with diabetes worldwide have experienced a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety, as a result of their diabetes.

With the proper knowledge and care, diabetes can be well-controlled, and certain lifestyle factors can even help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. Workplaces can boost their organisation’s productivity with initiatives supporting the health and well-being of all their employees, including those living with diabetes as well as those who are currently not affected by diabetes with the goal of staying healthy.

Corporate wellness programmes are a great way to help all employees understand how certain lifestyle factors—such as nutrition, maintaining a physically active lifestyle, and not smoking—are key elements for better health and well-being. Health Edco offers multiple education packages (on topics such as heart health, e-cigarettes and vaping, and smoking) that include engaging models, leaflets, and displays. Each package comes with a four-part facilitator’s guide, allowing facilitator’s to provide a comprehensive presentation on each topic.

Our Diabetes Education Package is the ideal resource for facilitators to provide employees with comprehensive education about what diabetes is, the toll it can take on the body if not well-managed, assessing personal diabetes risk, and creating a personal action plan. Featuring a four-panel display, a chart, giveaway booklets, and a model of a diabetic foot, facilitators can present an empowering presentation using the detailed, included facilitator’s guide.

Because employees spend so much of their time at work, they also consume many of their meals at the workplace. If the workplace includes a canteen or on-site vending machines, it can encourage healthier eating strategies for employees by ensuring there are a variety of healthy options offering optimal nutrition.

In addition to offering a formal nutrition education programme, the workplace can encourage healthy eating strategies by displaying nutrition education materials and displays in the company canteen or break room. For example, our EatWise Pop-Up Banner is a colourful reminder to viewers of the essentials of good nutrition: Focus on fruits and vegetables; enjoy whole grains, lean proteins and dairy foods; and limit high-sugar and high-fat foods.

Like optimal nutrition, being physically active is key for better health for everyone. The workplace can encourage employees to be physically active by offering initiatives or incentives such as subsidised gym memberships, having an on-site gym, providing on-site exercise classes, or offering flexibility during the workday to allow employees to take part in physical activity.

Physical activity benefits the whole body, whilst a physically inactive lifestyle can contribute to serious and life-threatening health complications. Our Inactive Lifestyle Consequences 3-D Display features realistic 3-D models explaining how a lack of physical activity can contribute to multiple conditions, such as heart disease, multiple types of cancer, kidney stones, and type 2 diabetes.

All employees, including those dealing with diabetes management, benefit from employee mental well-being initiatives, which can include seminars in stress management, adequate break times, or workplace breaks with employee-led muscle-stretching and deep-breathing exercises.

Our Managing Stress Mini Pocket Guide is an excellent employee giveaway leaflet to help them identify stressors and manage stress throughout the workday. It features tips for stress relief and instructions for stress-relieving exercises.

A workplace dedicated to better health benefits all employees, including those with diabetes. Discover our complete line of diabetes education materials, and check out our full range of products dedicated to essential health topics to encourage healthier lifestyles.